How to use your trekking poles properly?

How to adjust your poles properly? How do you properly thread your wrist straps? How do you use your poles on steep slopes or inclines? Here are our tips on how to use your hiking poles properly.

When hiking, using poles has many advantages. They take the strain off the hiker's joints and back. They also distribute the load better, especially the weight of the rucksack, and allow you to use all the muscles in your body, taking the strain off your thighs and legs.

While many hikers use their poles for better stability and therefore for greater safety, since they limit the risk of falling or slipping, hiking poles are also very good propellers. Thanks to them, you will gain momentum and be able to maintain a good rhythm, for the same effort. But all this is only possible if you use your poles correctly, which is not necessarily easy or natural, at least at the beginning. To help you better understand walking with poles, we have prepared a short guide to using them, followed by an explanatory video by our Trail Ambassador, Florian Olivier. 

Step 1: Adjusting the size of hiking poles

Hiking poles provide balance and propulsion, but to get the most out of them, you need to adjust the height of the pole. When hiking, the terrain is not always flat, it can be sloping or overhanging, and even littered with obstacles. This is why it is necessary to be able to adjust the length of your poles according to the terrain. This is why you should use adjustable multi-strand poles, whether they are telescopic or foldable.

Here are some tips on how to adjust the size of your trekking poles to suit the terrain.

On flat ground: with properly adjusted poles, your arm and forearm should form a right angle of 90° at the elbow (more or less, depending on your preferences and comfort) 

On the way up: if the slope is steep and/or long you can adjust the length of your poles by shortening them

Downhill: if the slope is steep and/or long you can increase the length of your poles by lengthening them

On a slope: you can adjust the length of your poles individually, e.g. shorten only the side pole on an uphill slope

If you don't want to spend your time adjusting the length of your poles, you won't always have a perfect 90° right angle, but that's okay. It's something you'll learn to deal with as you practice, you'll feel it and adjust your grip or poles accordingly. 

Step 2: Putting on the handles of your hiking poles

The handles of hiking poles are equipped with adjustable straps, which are called straps. There are two types, simple and padded for greater comfort, especially on longer outings. They are used to provide better propulsion and to relieve the hand and wrist, which also allows the forearms to rest. 

To put them on correctly, simply slip your hand underneath and close your palm over the handle so that the base of the strap is between your thumb and forefinger. This way, your wrist will rest lightly on the strap, taking the pressure off it, and you won't have to squeeze your hand tightly around the handle. 

Step 3: Walking with your hiking poles

Once you have adjusted your poles to the right size, all you have to do is use them, which is not very complicated. The technique is quite simple, for more propulsion we advise you to hold your poles at the back of your body. If you prefer to hold your poles in front of you to "pull" you, place them to the sides, so that they never get in the way. Never put them in front of you, as you may hit them.

Depending on the terrain, here are some basic walking tips to make sure you use your hiking poles correctly.

On flat ground: for a better rhythm, we advise you to use your poles as an extension of your arms, i.e. to alternate opposite leg/arm.

On a climb: you can move forward alternately, following the same swing system, or plant both poles at the same time to double the push, especially if the slope is steep. In this case, you can also shorten the size of your poles. 

On a steep descent: the pole is no longer a propellant but a restraint and is effective in reducing the effects of the slope on the joints (especially the knees) and the thigh muscles (quadriceps). You should first leave the straps so that you are not hindered in case of a fall, then change the grip by directly gripping the handles or better, by pressing the palm of your hands on the top of the poles.

Also on downhill you can use your poles alternately one by one or two by two.

On a slope: as on a downhill run, you have to leave your straps to change the grip to the higher pole and take it below the grip at the sleeve. In this case there is no need to adjust the length of the pole. If you prefer to have more comfort you can always shorten the length by 10 to 15 centimetres.

To overcome an obstacle: it is possible to put the poles over the obstacle and pull yourself up, but if you prefer the pole to be a propeller, it is better to put the poles just in front of the obstacle and then go over it. If the obstacle is downhill, we advise you to increase the size of your poles, leave the straps, rest your palm on the top of the handle and place your poles below the obstacle. 

What is the purpose of the sleeve under the handle?

On some poles, you will notice that there is a handle under the grip, this is the sleeve. As we said above, the sleeve is very practical on slopes if you don't necessarily want to change the length of your poles, but also on steep slopes or to get over an obstacle, always for the same reason. 

Video summary

In the following video, our Ambassador Florian Olivier explains everything you need to know about using your hiking poles.